A deadly confrontation tied to a suspected relationship dispute has left two people dead in Florida, while the accused gunman remains missing after reportedly fleeing into the ocean.
Authorities say 64-year-old Jesse Scott Ellis is suspected of fatally shooting his estranged wife, 49-year-old Stacie Ellis Mason, and her co-worker, 56-year-old Danny Ooley, in a parking lot outside a public library in Vero Beach. The incident unfolded early Tuesday and is being treated as a targeted act rooted in personal conflict.
Investigators revealed that both victims arrived separately at the Indian River County Main Library parking lot, a location they were believed to have used for prior meetings. Ooley parked his Ford Ranger, and Mason arrived shortly after, joining him inside the vehicle. Moments later, Ellis allegedly drove up, exited his vehicle armed with a rifle-style weapon, and approached the truck.
Surveillance footage reviewed by police shows the suspect opening fire at close range, striking both victims multiple times. Officials described the violence as deliberate and emotionally driven.
“This was a targeted marital issue that went terribly, terribly wrong,” Police Chief David Currey said during a Wednesday briefing.
According to investigators, the motive centers around a suspected romantic relationship between Mason and Ooley, which police described as “essentially an affair.” Currey further characterized the case as a “crime of passion,” stating that the pair “were apparently seeing each other for a period of time, and one husband [was] upset about it.”
Ellis and Mason had been married for over a decade and were reportedly in the process of separating, with discussions underway about selling their home. Ooley, who also had a spouse, worked as an assistant director of public works and had spent nearly 25 years in public service.
Following the shooting, Ellis fled in a gray Ford F-150 and drove toward South Beach Park. Witnesses later reported seeing a man matching his description enter the ocean “fully clothed” and swim far offshore.
Emergency responders were dispatched around the same time for a report of a swimmer in distress. Officials say they encountered Ellis but were unaware of his alleged involvement in the shooting. He reportedly provided a false identity, appeared calm, refused assistance, and swam away.
That moment marks the last confirmed sighting of the suspect.
Law enforcement later recovered his abandoned vehicle at the park and launched a large-scale search operation involving marine units, drones, and K-9 teams. Authorities are still trying to determine whether Ellis drowned or managed to escape unnoticed.
“That’s a good question,” Currey said when pressed about Ellis’ fate. “Could he have drowned? Potentially, yes. Could he have come back out of the water? Potentially, yes.”
Search warrants executed at a residence linked to Ellis led to the seizure of firearms and electronic devices, which are now undergoing forensic analysis as part of the ongoing investigation.
Despite the violent nature of the incident, officials emphasized that it appears isolated and targeted, with no broader threat to the public.
However, questions remain about the alleged motive. In a brief interview, Ooley’s mother disputed claims of an affair.
“He was not having an affair,” she said. “They were there checking for a job they were going to be doing.”
The tragedy has deeply affected the local community, particularly among county workers who knew both victims. Mason had been employed as a traffic analyst technician since 2014, while Ooley was widely recognized for his long-standing public service.
Authorities continue to search for Ellis as they work to piece together the events leading up to the shooting and clarify the circumstances behind the fatal encounter.
